About Planning Law
Lexis+ Planning helps you to understand planning requirements, procedures, policy, appeals and enforcement, for developments ranging from small-scale residential extensions to nationally significant infrastructure projects. Clear, concise practice notes have direct links to relevant cases, legislation, guidance and commentary and our daily news feeds and weekly highlights keep you informed of new cases, legislation, and consultations.
Get, change, implement planning permission
We cover all key aspects of the planning application process from the procedure, viability considerations, to decision-making and material considerations, to the duty to give reasons for planning decisions.
Planning issues in property
A series of Practice Notes and Checklists outlining the planning issues for a planning title in a property transaction. How information’s revealed, what to report on, and the significance of the findings for the buyer.
Compulsory purchase
Compulsory purchase is governed by complex legislation, case law and guidance. We provide the legal requirements and good practice to help customers navigate the procedure, scope of CPOs and opportunities for challenge.
Legislation, guidance and commentary
Planning requirements, procedures, policy, appeals and enforcement. We cover developments ranging from small-scale residential extensions to nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Topics We Cover
Latest Planning News
This week's edition of Planning weekly highlights includes: a consultation on areas for producing spatial development strategies; a harbour revision...
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has launched the Framework for a Nature Positive Built Environment, developed with an expert Task Group of 33...
Planning analysis: Defra’s Water White Paper signals a shift towards faster, more coordinated delivery of water and wastewater infrastructure, with...
Planning analysis: From 1 April 2026, most section 78(1) planning appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990) against decisions...
The Department for Transport (DfT) and Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published guidance outlining a new harbour revision order (HRO)...
Latest Planning Practice Notes
Who is subject to the freedom of information regimeThe Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FIA 2000) grants a right of access to information held by...
Harbour orders: harbour revision, harbour closure and harbour empowerment orders and harbour reorganisation schemesThis Practice Note addresses...
Planning appeals—written representationsWhen are written representations used?Written representations are an appropriate procedure for a planning...
Planning appeals—which procedure?There is a right of appeal against most local planning authority (LPA) decisions on planning applications and related...
Planning appeals—key pointsWhen can a decision be appealed?There is a right of appeal against most local authority decisions on planning application...
Latest Planning Precedents
Environmental Information Regulations 2004, Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000—provision for disclosure by a local authority...
Contract for sale—freehold vacant possession conditional on planningdate [date]Parties1[name of Seller] [of OR incorporated in England and Wales...
Precedent compulsory purchase order indemnity agreementThis Agreement is made on [date]BETWEEN1[Council] whose principal place of business is...
Wayleave agreement—previous Electronic Communications CodeSTOP PRESS: THE NEW ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CODE CAME INTO FORCE ON 28 DECEMBER 2017. THIS...
Conservation covenant agreementThis is the first draft of a precedent conservation covenant agreement, to be made under section 117 of the Environment...
Latest Planning Q&As
Featured Planning content
Statutory wayleaves and rights of access
Statutory wayleaves and rights of accessUtilitiesThe water, gas, electricity, communications and energy industries enjoy statutory rights of access...
Planning conditions—the six tests
Planning conditions—the six testsPowers to impose planning conditionsThe general powers for local planning authorities (LPAs) to impose conditions on...
What rights of access are there over an unadopted road, the owner of which is unknown?
What is a section 111 agreement?
Where a roadway is adopted by the local highways authority, can it also form part of an individual property owner's registered title? What is the effect if a way is both adopted but also shown as within a registered title to a residential property?
Section 215 notice requiring maintenance of land
Section 215 notice requiring maintenance of landIntroductionThe purpose of section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990) is to...
Can a Grampian condition be imposed in respect of works which require Planning Permission in their own right?
Bias and pre-determination in planning cases
Bias and pre-determination in planning casesScope of bias and pre-determination in planning casesBias and pre-determination can be an issue in...
Permitted development in Wales
Permitted development in WalesPlanning permission is required for the development of land. 'Development', which is defined in the Town and Country...
Declaratory relief of planning decisions
Declaratory relief of planning decisionsA declaratory judgment is a judgment identifying the rights, duties or obligations of one or more parties in a...
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)What is a Site of Special Scientific Interest?Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are sites in...
If an unadopted highway has fallen into disrepair, what rights are open to an individual whose right to pass and repass over that highway has been restricted by the state of disrepair?
Are there any restrictions on amending the red line on a planning application before it is determined?
What is a town or village green?
What is a town or village green?The existence of a town or village green (TVG) may restrict or even prevent development. It is a criminal offence to...
Material change of use
Material change of useControl of developmentPursuant to section 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990), planning permission is...
Is there a limitation period for water authorities to require a build over agreement to be entered into (for example, if a building had been in existence for 12 years without a relevant build over agreement in place)? Are there any specific powers to require a build over agreement to be entered into retrospectively (if the authority owned the sewer prior to the 2011 transfer)?
Implementing a CPO—notice to treat and General Vesting Declaration
Implementing a CPO—notice to treat and General Vesting DeclarationContextThe confirmation of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) does not vest title in...
The Crichel Down Rules
The Crichel Down RulesThe Crichel Down Rules (the Rules) require that in certain circumstances, surplus government land that was acquired by, or under...
Associated legal terms
Development plan
Consists of the local plans and neighbourhood plans (taken as a whole) that have been adopted or approved in relation to an area, setting out the policies for the development of that area. Planning decisions must be made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Existing Use Value (EUV)
Value of a site or property in its existing use or based upon an implementable planning consent excluding any hope value.
Planning Judicial Review
A means of challenging the lawfulness of an act or omission by a public body, which has a sufficient public element. Planning judicial review is dealt with in a specialist Planning Court under rules set out in s 31 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 and CPR 54.
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